Top COVID-19 vaccination challenges

By James D. Dawes, MHA, COE, CMPE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use authorization for two COVID-19 vaccines, with another one expected to be approved soon. Along with the hope it brings, vaccination has brought several challenges that I’ve heard in my regular conversations with frontline managers in ophthalmic practices and ASCs. Below, I list three of the most common challenges and, where appropriate, suggestions for how to address them.

• Challenge #1 - Getting the vaccine. Since vaccine distribution began in the United States on Dec. 14, more than 42 million doses have been administered, reaching 9.7% of the total U.S. population, according to federal data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at press time. The United States is administering around 1.4 million shots a day. With the elderly and direct line healthcare workers at the front of the line, it will take months for enough people to get vaccinated to end the pandemic, according to estimates. For information about getting the vaccine, visit bit.ly/OPCDCvaccines .
• Challenge #2 – Fitting a vaccination appointment into the clinic schedule. Many healthcare workers are being notified of an appointment or opportunity to get the vaccine. However, that appointment often falls during their normal patient hours. Unfortunately, many are concerned that if they do not accept the appointment, they will fall to the back of the line. Leaving the office in the middle of the day for a vaccination can be a challenge for many front-line workers. Practices can help address this challenge by scrutinizing coordination of patient care, staff schedules, and protocols to ensure the safety of our teams and patients.
• Challenge #3 – Becoming a vaccination site. Some ophthalmic practices have expressed a desire to serve as a vaccination site, particularly given the age and risk of our patient population. The application and approval process to become a provider of vaccines can be arduous. Several large ophthalmic practices have made the decision to administer the vaccine, and many have been approved. Unfortunately, in most states there is simply not enough vaccine to be distributed to all the potential vaccination sites, with some states recently reporting backlogs and/or canceled appointments due to limited supplies. As the FDA approves additional vaccines, this situation will improve. However, significant details need to be coordinated at the federal, state, and local levels to coordinate the logistics of distribution. For vaccination program provider requirements visit bit.ly/OPCDCProvider .

Keep in mind the vaccine is not a silver bullet, as healthcare professionals must continue to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing, mask wearing, safety, and sanitization protocols in our office while we pursue vaccines for ourselves, our families, and our patients. If you are struggling with the on-going safety protocols, COVID fatigue, and, more recently, vaccination issues, then know you are not alone. But things will get better. As we move into 2021 and the months to come, we must continue to be diligent in our responsibilities. Onward. OP